The Trans-NIH Consortium of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) of Lifestyle Weight Loss Interventions for Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) develops collaborative genome-wide studies that explore the contribution of genetics to variation in intentional weight loss and weight maintenance. It is a consortium designed to support knowledge of genetic predictors of successful weight loss and maintenance.
Mission
The Consortium fosters research excellence in precision medicine approaches to improve treatment response to behavioral weight loss interventions through the integration of new genetic discoveries.
Research Priorities
- Identify genetic predictors of successful weight loss and maintenance
- Examine gene x treatment interactions (Are there genetic predictors of adherence? Are there gene x macronutrients profiles?)
- Identify challenges and strategies for pooling existing resources
- Develop approaches for harmonizing phenotypes
Consortium Members
Coordinating Center for Biospecimens and Phenotypes
| Name | Affiliation |
|
Kathleen Jablonski, Ph.D. |
Milken Institute School of Public Health The George Washington University |
| Jeanne McCaffery, Ph.D.
|
Department of Allied Health Sciences University of Connecticut |
Current Members
|
Name |
Affiliation |
|
Steven Belle, Ph.D. |
Department of Epidemiology University of Pittsburgh |
|
Dolores Corella, Ph.D. |
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) University of Valencia, Spain |
|
Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, Ph.D., R.D. |
School of Health Professions and Comprehensive Cancer Center University of Alabama at Birmingham |
|
Christopher Gardner, Ph.D. |
Stanford Prevention Research Center Stanford University School of Medicine |
|
Gang Hu, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H. |
Chronic Disease Epidemiology Lab Pennington Biomedical Research Center |
|
Kathleen Jablonski, Ph.D. |
Milliken Institute of Public Health George Washington University |
|
Jeanne McCaffery, Ph.D. |
Department of Allied Health Sciences University of Connecticut |
|
Anne McTiernan, M.D., Ph.D. |
Public Health Sciences Division Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center |
|
Lu Qi, M.D., Ph.D. |
Obesity Research Center School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine Tulane University |
|
Sue Shapses, Ph.D. |
School of Environmental and Biological Sciences Rutgers University |
|
Deborah Tate, Ph.D. |
Department of Health Behavior University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
|
Jaakko Tuomilehto, M.D., Ph.D. |
Department of Public Health University of Helsinki, Finland |
Interested in Participating?
- Existing RCTs testing lifestyle interventions for weight loss in adults
- RCTs with available GWAS data or biospecimens that may be suitable for a large collaborative genome-wide studies
- Ongoing or completed large randomized controlled trial with measured phenotypes
- Lifestyle interventions for weight loss among adults
- Available and transferrable data. Participants consented for data sharing
- Available and transferrable biospecimens for genome wide study using GWAS or next generation sequencing (e.g., whole genome sequencing)
Current Projects
Gene-Body Composition Pilot Study
This project will evaluate polymorphisms associated with a change in the waist circumference. Specifically, the working group aims to determine the impact of 56 polymorphisms previously associated with waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) or waist circumference (WC) on change in WHR and WC at one year after randomization to an intensive lifestyle intervention.
Project Co-Leads: Jeanne McCaffery, Ph.D. and Kathleen Jablonski, Ph.D.
Behavior Change Techniques Taxonomy
This project will use the Behavioral Change Technique (BCT) framework to deconstruct, describe lifestyle weight-loss intervention and to predict weight outcome. The study aims to identify the dose of specific BCTs that are associated with weight loss across the 14 RCT weight loss interventions.
Project Co-Leads: Deborah Tate, Ph.D. and Steven Belle, Ph.D.
Weight Loss Adherence
This project aims to pool measures and use adherence as a covariate when examining Diet/PA/Lifestyle X Genotype weight loss success across the consortium weight loss interventions. Potential areas of research include understanding factors that influence intervention retention and weight loss.
Project Co-Leads: Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, Ph.D., R.D. and Christopher Gardner, Ph.D.
Consortium Weight Loss Interventions
|
PI Name |
Organization |
Project Title |
|
Dolores Corella, Ph.D. |
University of Valencia, Spain |
PREDIMED-PLUS |
|
Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, Ph.D., R.D. |
University of Alabama at Birmingham |
ENERGY Trial |
|
Christopher Gardner, Ph.D. |
Stanford University School of Medicine |
Diet Intervention Examining The Factors Interacting with Treatments (DIETFITs) |
|
Gang Hu, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H. |
Pennington Biomedical Research Center |
Tianjin Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Prevention Program (TGDMPP) |
|
Kathleen Jablonski, Ph.D. |
George Washington University |
Diabetes Prevention Program |
|
Jeanne McCaffery, Ph.D. |
University of Connecticut |
Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) Study |
|
Jeanne McCaffery, Ph.D. |
University of Connecticut |
Study of Novel Approaches to Weight Gain Prevention (SNAP) Trial |
|
Anne McTiernan, M.D., Ph.D. |
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center |
Nutrition and Exercise for Women (NEW) Study |
|
Lu Qi, M.D., Ph.D. |
Tulane University |
The Preventing Overweight Using Novel Dietary Strategies Study Trial (POUNDS LOST) |
|
Sue Shapses, Ph.D. |
Rutgers University |
Osteoporosis, Weight Loss and Endocrine (OWLE) |
|
Jaakko Tuomilehto, M.D., Ph.D. |
University of Helsinki, Finland |
DPS: The Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study |
Related Events
TOS/NIH Joint Symposium: Genetic Variation in Response to Weight Loss Interventions, November 3-7, 2019
Consortium members participated in this special “town hall” style session to solicit interest in participating in the consortium and to stimulate input and recommendations from the obesity research community.
Meetings of the Trans-NIH Consortium of Randomized Controlled Trials of Lifestyle Weight Loss Interventions for Genome-Wide Association Studies
Consortium members meet to discuss coding and measurement items in various projects, coordinate writing efforts, and revisit bylaws before inviting new studies to join the consortium’s efforts. Speakers are invited to present novel developments in the field relevant to the consortium’s mission.
2021 Meeting Agenda (PDF, 135 KB)
2019 Meeting Agenda (PDF, 125 KB)
2017 Meeting Agenda (PDF, 124 KB)
2016 Meeting Agenda (PDF, 116 KB)
Presentations
- McCaffery JM, Jablonski K, Pan Q, Astrup A, Christiansen MR et al. Genetic predictors of change in waist circumference and waist to hip ratio with lifestyle intervention: The Trans-NIH consortium for Genetics of Weight Loss Response to Lifestyle Intervention. American Diabetes Association’s Virtual 81st Scientific Sessions, June 25-29, 2021.
Related Resources
-
Bray MS, Loos RJ, McCaffery JM, et al. NIH working group report-using genomic information to guide weight management: From universal to precision treatment. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2016 Jan;24(1):14-22. doi: 10.1002/oby.21381
Trans-NIH Working Group
|
Name |
Affiliation |
|
Tanya Agurs-Collins, Ph.D., R.D. (Chair) |
National Cancer Institute |
|
Susan Czajkowski, Ph.D. |
National Cancer Institute |
|
Cashell Jaquish, Ph.D. |
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute |
|
Robert W. Karp, Ph.D. |
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases |
|
Leah Mechanic, Ph.D., M.P.H. |
National Cancer Institute |
|
Sharon Ross, Ph.D., M.P.H. |
National Cancer Institute |
|
Susan Yanovski, M.D. |
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases |
Contacts
